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Genome Statute and Legislation Database

The Genome Statute and Legislation Database is comprised of state statutes and bills introduced during the 2002-2024 U.S. state legislative sessions.

Overview

The Genome Statute and Legislation Database is reviewed and updated monthly. Searchable topics in the database include employment and insurance discrimination, health insurance coverage, privacy, research, the use of residual newborn screening specimens and other topics of interest.

Definitions of terms such as "bill", "statute", and "regulation" are available through the Glossary of Statutory, Legislative, and Regulatory Terms.

For other helpful links and legislative databases, please see Additional Resources.

Search

State Sort descending Primary Link Topic(s) Bill Status Summary
Connecticut Privacy Died

Establishes a framework for controlling and processing personal data. Establishes responsibilities and privacy protection standards for data controllers and processors. Grants consumers the right to access, correct, delete and obtain a copy of personal data and to opt out of the processing of personal data for the purposes of targeted advertising. Sensitive data is defined as personal data that includes the processing of genetic or biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person. Died.

Connecticut Privacy Enacted

Creates a task for concerning consumer privacy. The introduced version of the bill was amended to create a task force rather than set forth certain requirements pertaining to the privacy of personal information such as DNA. Signed by the Governor 7/9/2019.

Connecticut Health Insurance Coverage Died

Requires individual and group health insurers to provide coverage for breast cancer chemoprevention counseling, risk assessment, genetic testing and counseling for any woman who is at increased risk for breast cancer due to family history, prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing or other indications as determined by a health care provider. Died.

Connecticut Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Enacted

Prohibits insurers, health care centers and fraternal benefit societies from, in connection with the issuance, withholding, extension or renewal of an annuity or an insurance policy for life, credit life, disability, long-term care, accidental injury, specified disease, hospital indemnity or credit accident insurance: (1) requesting, requiring, purchasing or using information obtained from an entity providing direct-to-consumer genetic testing without the informed written consent of the individual who has been tested; (2) conditioning insurance rates, the provision or renewal of insurance coverage or benefit or other conditions of insurance for an individual on a requirement or agreement that the individual undergo genetic testing; and (3) conditioning insurance rates, the provision or renewal of insurance coverage or benefit or other conditions of insurance for an individual on the results of any genetic testing of a member of the individual's family unless the results are contained in the individual's medical record. 7/7/2021 Signed by the Governor. Effective October 1, 2021.

Connecticut Health Insurance Coverage Died

The Commissioner of Social Services must provide Medicaid coverage to the extent permissible under federal law for pharmacogenomics tests determined to be medically necessary. The commissioner may not require prior authorization for medically necessary pharmacogenomics tests for persons being treated for (1) behavioral disorders, (2) psychiatry disorders, (3) cardiovascular disorders, and (4) chronic pain. Died.

Connecticut Privacy Died

Prohibits a consumer genetic-testing company from sharing any genetic data or other personally identifiable information about a consumer with any health or life insurance company. Died.

Connecticut Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits life insurance companies from requiring genetic testing or using genetic information in connection with life insurance policies and annuity contracts. Died.

Connecticut Other Topics Died

Establishes a task force to require a study of the link between the abnormal genes associated with breast and ovarian cancers and the nerve death associated with Alzheimer's disease to improve diagnosis, risk assessment and treatment of such disease. Died.

Connecticut Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Statute

The Health Commissioner must review and approve research proposals to be conducted using personally identifiable information in the newborn screening system or requiring contact with affected individuals.

Connecticut Privacy Died

Requires businesses to disclose the proposed use of any personal information and to give consumers the right to discover what personal information the business possesses. Consumers may opt out of the sale of such information. Personal information is defined to include biometric information such as DNA which can be used to identify an individual. Died.

Connecticut Health Insurance Coverage Statute

The statute provides coverage of specified services for women who meet the age requirements set forth in the statute. If a woman is believed to be at increased risk for breast cancer due to 1) family history or prior personal history of breast cancer or 2) positive genetic testing or other indications as determined by a woman's physician advanced practice registered nurse, individual and group health insurers must provide a mammogram, which may be provided by breast tomosynthesis at the option of the woman covered under the policy, and comprehensive ultrasound screening of an entire breast or breasts. Ultrasound screening is provided only if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue based on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System established by the American College of Radiology.

Delaware Research, Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Enacted

Amends the provision pertaining to use of stored blood specimens. Removes language permitting the Division of Public Health use of specimens for (1) quality assurance or performance improvement activities, including pilot studies, when a new disorder is being considered for addition to the panel; or (2) any other purpose authorized by law. research use in population based studies of de-identified specimens is permitted with parental consent. However, an amendment to the existing statute requires the destruction of blood specimens after screening and testing are complete. Signed by the Governor on 9/15/2021. Effective upon Governor's signature.

Delaware Privacy Pending

Seeks to provide consumers with critical information about how their personal information is being used by data brokers. Data brokers must register with the Consumer Protection Unit of the Department of Justice and answer questions regarding their use of personal information that would be published online to inform consumers. Data brokers are required annually to complete an electronic form designated by the Director of Consumer Protection. Data brokers must report on the form the types of consumer data, including genetic data, collected directly from consumers and from consumers� devices. Carries over to 2022.

Delaware Privacy Died

Restricts the use of a child's personally identifiable information, including DNA and other genetic material, by the operator of an internet service. Substitute bill passed by House and Senate, but substitute bill does not include language regarding DNA and genetic information. Substituted bill was signed by the Governor.

Delaware Privacy, Research Statute

Informed consent is required to obtain or retain genetic information about an individual. Exemptions include anonymous research where the identity of the subject will not be released. A sample from which genetic information has been obtained must be promptly destroyed with certain exceptions, including retention for anonymous research. An individual may inspect, request correction of and obtain genetic information from the records of that individual. The law sets forth civil penalties for violations.

Delaware Privacy Died

Requires the Department of Education to promulgate rules and regulations relating to the privacy and protection of student data, including DNA or other genetic material. Senate Substitute Version passed in House and Senate -- DNA or other genetic information is replaced by biometric information. The term biometric information is not defined. Substituted bill was signed by the Governor.

Delaware Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Statute

Discrimination is prohibited in the issuance, denial or renewal of or in the fixing of the rates, terms or conditions for health insurance, excluding disability or long-term care insurance. The law provides for a cause of action in the nature of defamation, invasion of privacy or negligence with some exceptions.

Delaware Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Enacted

Prohibits group health insurers from establishing rules for eligibility of an individual to enroll based on a health status related factor of individuals, including genetic information. Prohibits individual health insurers from establishing rules for eligibility of an individual to enroll under the terms of the coverage based on health status-related factors, including genetic information. Signed by the Governor on July 15, 2013.

Delaware Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits discrimination based upon genetic information in the issuance or renewal of disability, long-term care, and life insurance. Died.

Delaware Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Statute

A health status-related factor is defined to include genetic information with respect to large group health plans, individual health plans and small employer health insurance. Group health insurers may not establish rules for eligibility of an individual to enroll based on a health status related factor. Individual health insurers may not establish rules for eligibility of an individual to enroll under the terms of the coverage based on a health status-related factor.

Delaware Privacy Enacted

This bill addresses informed consent for disclosing genetic information by adding those individuals authorized to access EMR and DHIN. Signed by the Governor on 7/27/2015.

Delaware Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits discrimination based upon genetic characteristics and information in the issuance or renewal of disability and long term care insurance. Insurers also must provide notice if a genetic test is required. Died.

Delaware Employment Nondiscrimination Statute

Employers, employment agencies, labor organization or joint labor-management committee controlling apprenticeships or other training may not discriminate based on genetic information. These entities may admit or employ any individual on the basis of genetic information in those certain instances where genetic information is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of that particular business or enterprise. Enforcement provisions, processes for civil action by the Attorney General or charging party, judicial remedies and civil penalties are established.

Delaware Research, Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Enacted

Prohibits utilizing newborn screening stored blood specimens or stored data without parental consent, except for population based studies in which all identifying information is removed. Blood spots may be used within the Division of Public Health for quality assurance or performance improvement activities, including pilot studies when a new disorder is being considered for addition to the panel, or may be used by Division of Public Health for any other purpose authorized by law. Jul 15, 2015 - Signed by Governor.

Delaware Use of Residual Newborn Screening Specimens Statute

Prohibits research utilizing stored blood specimens or the stored data without parental consent, except for population-based studies in which all identifying information is removed. Parents may elect not to participate in blood spot storage.

Delaware Privacy Enacted

Establishes protections for personal information, including a deoxyribonucleic profiles, owned, maintained, or licensed by businesses in the state. Businesses must implement and maintain reasonable procedures and practices to prevent the unauthorized access to or acquisition, use, modification, disclosure, or destruction of personal information collected or maintained in the regular course of business. 8/17/2017 Signed by the Governor. Effective 4/14/2018.

District of Columbia Employment Nondiscrimination, Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Statute

Employers, employment agencies and labor organizations may not discriminate based on genetic information with some exceptions such as to investigate a workers' compensation claim. A health benefit plan or health insurer may not establish rules for the eligibility or adjust premium or contribution amounts for an individual on the basis of genetic information concerning the individual or his/her family member, including information about a request for or receipt of genetic services by an individual or the individual's family member. Health insurers also may not require or request a genetic test.

Florida Privacy Died

Creates the Parents' Bill of Rights. Parental rights include the right to consent in writing before any record of his or her minor child's blood or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is created, stored, or shared, except as required by general law or authorized pursuant to a court order. 4/21/2021 Senate Laid on Table, companion bill passed, see HB 241 (Ch. 2021-199) SJ 547.

Florida Employment Nondiscrimination Died

This bill prohibits appointments, terminations, assignments, and maintenance of status, compensation, privileges and other terms and conditions of employment in the state personnel system based on genetic information. Measure failed.

Florida Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Statute

Prohibits life, long-term care, or disability income insurers from: (1) canceling, limiting or denying coverage, or establishing differentials in premium rates, based on genetic information in the absence of a diagnosis; (2) requiring or soliciting genetic information, using genetic test results, or considering a person's actions related to genetic testing for any insurance purpose.

Florida Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Creates Healthy Florida Program for purpose of comprehensive universal single-payer health care coverage. The Board of the program must establish requirements and standards to promote nondiscrimination, including based on genetic information. Died.

Florida Privacy Died

Creates the Florida privacy Protection Act. Requires collectors to provide notice to consumers about data collection and selling practices. Provides consumers right to request data be disclosed, deleted, or corrected and to opt-in or opt-out of sale or sharing of such data. Provides nondiscrimination measures, methods for requesting data and opting-in or opting-out of sale or sharing of such data, private cause of action, enforcement, and jurisdiction. Personal information is defined to include biometric information such as DNA. 4/30/21 Died in returning messages.

Florida Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination, Privacy Enacted

Amends the state insurance law pertaining to the use of genetic information. Prohibits life, long-term care, or disability income insurers from: (1) canceling, limiting or denying coverage, or establishing differentials in premium rates, based on genetic information in the absence of a diagnosis; (2) requiring or soliciting genetic information, using genetic test results, or considering a person's actions related to genetic testing for any insurance purpose. 6/30/2020 Approved by the Governor. Effective 7/1/2020.

Florida Employment Nondiscrimination Died

This bill prohibits appointments, terminations, assignments, and maintenance of status, compensation, privileges and other terms and conditions of employment in the state personnel system based on genetic information. Measure failed.

Florida Privacy, Research Statute

Prohibits a person to from willfully, and without express consent: (1) collecting or retaining another person's DNA sample with the intent to perform DNA analysis; (2) submitting another person's DNA sample for analysis or conducting or procuring the conduct of another person's DNA analysis; (3) disclosing another person's DNA analysis result to a third party; and (4) selling or otherwise transferring another person's DNA sample or the results of another person's DNA analysis to third party, regardless of whether the DNA sample was originally collected, retained, or analyzed with express consent. The bill provides exemptions for certain activities such as research subject to, and conducted in compliance with, 45 C.F.R. part 46, 21 C.F.R. parts 50 and 56, or 45 C.F.R. parts 160 and 164.

Florida Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits life insurers and long-term care insurers from basing decisions on genetic information. Prohibits these insurers from taking certain actions related to genetic information for any insurance purpose. Died.

Florida Privacy Enacted

Creates the Parents' Bill of Rights. Parental rights include the right to consent in writing before any record of his or her minor child's blood or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is created, stored, or shared, except as required by general law or authorized pursuant to a court order. 6/29/21 Approved by the Governor. Effective 7/1/2021.

Florida Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill amends Florida's health_insurance_nondiscrimination law. The bill removes the exemption for life, disability and long-term care insurance under existing law and states that the law applies to other lines of insurance. Died.

Florida Employment Nondiscrimination Statute

No person, firm, corporation, unincorporated association, state agency, unit of local government, or any public or private entity shall deny or refuse employment to any person or discharge any person from employment solely because such person has the sickle-cell trait. These entities also may not require screening or testing for the sickle-cell trait as a condition for employment.

Florida Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Creates Healthy Florida Program for purpose of comprehensive universal single-payer health care coverage. The Board of the program must establish requirements and standards to promote nondiscrimination, including based on genetic information. Died.

Florida Privacy, Research Enacted

Prohibits a person to from willfully, and without express consent: (1) collecting or retaining another person's DNA sample with the intent to perform DNA analysis; (2) submitting another person's DNA sample for analysis or conducting or procuring the conduct of another person's DNA analysis; (3) disclosing another person's DNA analysis result to a third party; and (4) selling or otherwise transferring another person's DNA sample or the results of another person's DNA analysis to third party, regardless of whether the DNA sample was originally collected, retained, or analyzed with express consent. The bill provides exemptions for certain activities such as research subject to, and conducted in compliance with, 45 C.F.R. part 46, 21 C.F.R. parts 50 and 56, or 45 C.F.R. parts 160 and 164. 6/19/2021 Approved by the Governor. Effective 10/1/2021.

Florida Neonatal sequencing Died

Children?s Medical Services Program; Deleting a requirement that the Department of Health consult with the Department of Education before prescribing certain newborn testing and screening requirement...

Florida Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Statute

Insurers may not refuse to issue or deliver any policy of life insurance or disability insurance that affords certain services and benefits or impose a higher premium rate or charge for those policies solely because the person to be insured has the sickle-cell trait.

Florida Privacy Died

Enacts the Parents Bill of Rights. Parental rights include the right to consent in writing before any record of his or her minor child�s blood or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is created, stored, or shared, except as required by general law or authorized pursuant to a court order. Died.

Florida Health Insurance Nondiscrimination, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

This bill amends Florida's health_insurance_nondiscrimination law. The bill removes the exemption for life, disability and long-term care insurance under existing law and states that the law applies to other lines of insurance. Died.

Florida Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Statute

An insurer that offers a group health insurance policy may not establish rules for eligibility or continued eligibility based on certain health status-related factors, including genetic information or use genetic information in the absence of a diagnosis as the basis for a pre-existing condition exclusion.

Florida Other Topics, Other Lines of Insurance Nondiscrimination Died

Prohibits life insurers, long-term care insurers, and disability income insurers from certain actions relating to genetic information or genetic testing of applicants. Prohibits these insurers from taking certain actions relating to coverage or rates unless certain conditions are met. Requires entities providing direct-to-consumer genetic testing to obtain prior written authorization to disclose identifying health information to life or health insurers. Died.

Florida Other Topics Died

The bill establishes the Florida Priority Care Project. The project aims to place a higher public priority on targeting the needs of adults who have a serious mental illness and who have a history that indicates a high probability that they could pose a threat to public safety. Requirements for the project include the use of genetic testing to help establish the correct medication regimes to be used to manage and treat a client's symptoms. Died.

Florida Health Insurance Nondiscrimination Statute

Health care service programs may not treat genetic information as a preexisting condition in the absence of a diagnosis. A health maintenance organization that offers group health_insurance_coverage may not establish rules for eligibility or continued eligibility of an individual to enroll under the terms of the contract based on certain health status-related factors, including genetic information.

Florida Privacy Died

Establishes the parent's bill of rights. Requirements set forth in the bill include parental written consent before any record of a minor child's blood or DNA is made, shared or stored unless required by law or court order. 3/14/2020 Died in Judiciary.

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Additional Resources

Cornell Legal Information Institute
This website allows users to search for Federal and state laws and regulations. NHGRI’s Genome Statute and Legislation Database does not include regulations.

LawSeqSM Database
Developed at the University of Minnesota and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, this database allows users to search federal and state statutes, regulations, and reported judicial decisions. The database allows searches by jurisdiction (federal, state, and individuals states), source type, topic, and open text. This resource was developed by a project funded by NHGRI and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) on “LawSeqSM: Building a Sound Legal Foundation for Translating Genomics into Clinical Application” (grant #: R01HG008605; Susan M. Wolf,. Ellen Wright Clayton, and Frances Lawrenz, principal investigators). The team keeps this database up to date.

National Society of Genetic Counselors
To find information about state genetic counselor licensing laws, visit the National Society of Genetic Counselors’ website. NHGRI’s Genome Statute and Legislation Database does not include state laws related to genetic counseling. 

Last updated: February 8, 2024